Green camping essentials

Like so many of you, my family’s on a never-ending mission to reduce our overall carbon footprint and live as harmoniously as possible with the earth. Enter camping!

Fueled by nostalgic childhood memories of cooking over an open fire, playing from sunrise to sunset and swimming in glacier-fed lakes, we purchased a second-hand tent trailer — swore off jet-setting vacations — and set out to create our own family memories.

Spending night and day in nature is intrinsically green! But with a little planning and forethought, it’s simple to make your camping trip super-green.

Natural bug protection

Traditional bug spray has between 10 and 40 per cent DEET, a pesticide that inhibits the activity of the central nervous system. Health Canada recommends children under the age of 12 use only repellents containing less than 10 per cent DEET and that it never be used on infants. Opt instead for natural alternatives.

Wear or burn essential oils like cedar, citronella, lemongrass and rosemary, which help ward off bugs. Make your own spray by misting oils diluted in water onto skin and clothes, purchase a prefab natural bug spray, or burn essential oils in a diffuser around the campsite.

For truly desperate situations, get stinky! Apply fresh garlic to exposed skin. This repels bugs and people alike.

Protect from the sun safely

Opt for long-sleeve light clothes, a hat and the shade. By covering up you can enjoy the many benefits of the sun — like vitamin D — while protecting your skin from damage.

When it comes to creating a sustainable future, less is more. So for the occasional camper, consider borrowing instead of buying. Sharing sites like Yerdle.com help connect people with needs to people with stuff.Green power for camping

Use solar power to harness the energy of the sun and keep your off-the-beaten-track experience off the grid too! Small appliances and trailer heaters can easily be solar-powered. Consider also going battery-free with a crank-flashlight!

As important as what you eat is what you eat on! Avoid disposables or plastic and hit your local thrift or outdoor-gear store to find a set of durable enamel dinnerware.

And always, leave only footprints and take only memories. Share your tip for green camping success and be entered to win an all-natural, broad spectrum, vanilla-coconut sunscreen lotion courtesy of True Naural. (Go to David Suzuki’s Queen of Green for more info).